Abstract
The mesquite pods have a high nutritional value, being a rich source of sugars, proteins, minerals and fibers that can be used as a raw material for the development of a number of food products and technological innovations. The objective of this work was to study the drying kinetics of mesquite pods in a thin layer, 20 mm length and determine the effective diffusion coefficient by adjusting mathematical models that were based on heat transfer and mass fundamentals. For the experiments, we used mature mesquite, with 20% water content (b.u). Drying experiments were performed using temperatures of 50°C, 60°C, 70°C and 80°C with drying air speed of 2 m•s-1. It was used a convective dryer with fixed bed and upflow air. Mathematical models of Fick, Page, Cavalcanti-Mata, Two Exponential Terms and Henderson & Pabis were used to adjust the experimental data. To calculate the effective diffusivity, flat plate geometry with sample thickness of 6.5 mm was used. Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that the loss of water from mesquite occurred during the drying period in decreasing rate; and with increasing drying temperature, total process time was reduced. The diffusion coefficient increased by increasing drying temperature. Mathematical models including theoretical (Fick), semi-theoretical (Page and Cavalcanti-Mata) and empirical (Two Exponential Terms) models satisfactorily explain the experimental data of drying mesquite.
Highlights
Brazil is the country with the greatest potential for research with plant species in the world, because it has the largest and richest biodiversity on the planet distributed in six distinct biomes that have about 55,000 described species [1]
Mesquite was introduced in Brazil, especially in the Northeast, due to its hardiness and because it has the important characteristic of fruiting in the driest time of the year when natural fodder stocks reach a critical stage, providing a great food nutritional value, especially for feeding caprine and bovine [3]
Fruits of mesquite tree are yellow, long, flat pods and usually slightly curved, palatable, aromatic and sweet; it is in pods that is concentrated nutritional value, being a rich source of carbohydrate
Summary
Brazil is the country with the greatest potential for research with plant species in the world, because it has the largest and richest biodiversity on the planet distributed in six distinct biomes that have about 55,000 described species [1]. Plant foods are important because of their content of micronutrients, especially vitamins and minerals, and because of the phytochemical bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties [2]. Mesquite was introduced in Brazil, especially in the Northeast, due to its hardiness and because it has the important characteristic of fruiting in the driest time of the year when natural fodder stocks reach a critical stage, providing a great food nutritional value, especially for feeding caprine and bovine [3]. The pods of mesquite tree are among the oldest foods used by man in the New World. The pod is rich in sugars, proteins, minerals and fiber that can be converted into raw material in production of cakes, breads, cookies, drinks, condiments, jams, honeys, puddings, soups, porridge and other tasty and nutritious food [4]
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